Toews dares to dream big

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PAUL FRIESEN, QMI Agency

Apr 14, 2010

, Last Updated: 9:28 PM ET

I’m guessing Jonathan Toews has always dreamed big.

So it comes as no surprise the pride of St. Vital has allowed himself to envision what has to be the ultimate for anyone who’s ever gripped a hockey stick: Olympic gold and Stanley Cup silver — in the same year.

“You’re not afraid to dream about it,” Toews told the Sun from Chicago, Wednesday. “I’m not looking to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, yet. But I realize I have a chance to do something special.”

Again.

It seems Toews and the words “something special” are forever colliding. And he always walks away smiling.

With his 22nd birthday still two weeks away, Toews is already the first Canadian to win World Junior gold and World Championship gold in the same year.

He’s also the third-youngest person to be named an NHL captain and is coming off an Olympic tournament, his first, in which he was named the best forward and led Team Canada in scoring.

Less than two months later, he’s gearing up to lead the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup in 49 years.

With the Hawks finishing third overall and a trip to last year’s conference final having whet their appetites, you can only imagine the fever pitch of Chicago sports fans going into their team’s playoff opener against Nashville, Friday.

“Obviously, every sports fan in Chicago is hungry for a team that can win a championship,” Toews said. “For those who maybe don’t follow us or follow hockey every day, everyone is just expecting us to make it to the final. Anything less is a disappointment.”

That’s where the captain, or Mr. Serious, as teammates call him, comes in.

Much like Team Canada couldn’t simply show up in Vancouver and expect to waltz to gold, the Hawks can’t look past the Predators, and Game 1.

Or they’re doomed to the same pit the San Jose Sharks fall into every spring.